Respiratory Therapy Programs in Colorado - CO

There are several accredited programs available through Colorado respiratory therapy schools around the state. For those in need of a little more flexibility, there are also a handful of CoARC approved online schools.

Your associate degree will probably take about two years to complete, which is the standard length of time. There is currently no school in Colorado that provides a bachelors degree in respiratory care, so you’ll need to either go out of state, or transfer, if you desire that level of education.

While in school, you can expect to take a whole range of different classes. Respiratory Therapists need to understand breathing and mechanics of respiration inside and out- but they also need a solid grasp of chemistry, pharmaceutical drug and drug interaction, and biology.

Whatever work experience you can get in school, you should latch onto. Not only does it look good on a resume, but Respiratory Therapists are often called upon to perform a whole range of duties in the service of helping someone to breathe better, or at all, and the more experience the better.

You might also consider giving some thought to any further specialization you might want to pursue after college. It may be harder to arrange a job shadow or an internship with a sleep or neonatal care specialist when you are working full time.

Continuing Education in Colorado for Respiratory Therapists

The State of Colorado does not require Respiratory Therapists to undergo continuing education in order to renew their license, though it does charge a $34 fee for renewal.

However, to renew your membership and credentials in NBRC, you'll need to complete some 30 hours of continuing education every five years, regardless of whether you're a CRT or an RRT. This continuing education will need to be geared towards general respiratory study to count, though the NBRC does occasionally dictate that some of the hours must be spent on a different subject.

Through campus or online programs, aspiring Respiratory Therapists in Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora and Lakewood, Colorado may be able to prepare themselves for the possibility of employment in some of the largest hospitals and healthcare facilities in the state including the Colorado Children's Hospital, Memorial Hospital, Denver Health Medical Center and Colorado Acute Long Term Care Hospital.